Sterile shielded container

ABSTRACT

A shield for a hollow sterile tray to retain sterile articles therein, with the tray including, a top for access to the articles, a bottom, and at least one side wall connecting the top and the bottom. The shield includes a flexible sheet which covers at least a portion of the tray top and one side wall, and the sheet is sufficiently large to prevent contamination of the tray or articles during grasping of the shield by a user&#39;&#39;s hands.

United States Patent 1 Chesky STERILE SHIELDED CONTAINER [75] Inventor:Sheldon R. Chesky, Rolling Meadows, 111. [73] Assignee: The KendallCompany, Boston,

Mass. I I

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 121,080

[52] US. Cl. ..206/63.2 R, 206/DIG. 29 [51] Int. Cl. ..A61b 19/02, A61115/00 [5 8] Field of Search ..206/46 86, 46 ST,

206/46 F, 47 R, 56 R, 56 AC, 56 AA, 63.2 R, DIG. 29; 229/87 R [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,495,758 2/1970 Wienecke, Jr..206/D1G. 29 3,497,982 3/1970 Schulz ..229/51 TS 3,281,051 10/1966O'Brien et al, ..206/46 F X [451 Mag 1,1973

....206/DIG. 29

2,764,829 10/1956 Kingman 3,349,985 10/1967 Salway ..206/46 F X3,324,999 6/ 1967 Farquhar ..206/46 F 3,409,121 1 l/ 1968 Taterka..206/63.2 R 3,439,868 4/1969 Kuhnle ..206/47 R UX PrimaryExaminer-Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant Examiner-Steven E. LipmanAttorney-Thomas J. Goodwin and Robert D. Chodera [5 7 ABSTRACT A shieldfor a hollow sterile tray to retain sterile articles therein, with thetray including, a top for access to the articles, a bottom, and at leastone side wall connecting the top and the bottom. The shield includes aflexible sheet which covers at least a portion of the tray top and oneside wall, and the sheet is sufficiently large to prevent contaminationof the tray or articles during grasping of the shield by a users hands.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures STERILE SHIELDED CONTADIER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to a shield for a hollow steriletray to retain sterile articles.

It is well known that many medicinal articles utilized for treatment ofa patient must be sterilized to prevent infection. Since it isfrequently inconvenient or impossible to sterilize such articles at thetime of treatment, it has become common practice to sterilize them atsome time prior to their actual use. Accordingly, the pre-sterilizedarticles must often be maintained in a sterile condition forconsiderable periods of time, and to prevent contamination they may bepackaged in sterile containers or trays which may be covered by aprotective wrap and which are opened immediately prior to use.

Once the wrap is removed to expose the trays, a considerable amount ofcare must be exercised in manipulating the trays without contaminatingthe tray contents. In the past this has been both inconvenient anddifficult. For example, sterile gloves have been packaged within theprotective wrap, and after placement on the hands of a user, they areutilized to move and open the trays. However, this procedure isdeficient since the glove fingers may become contaminated while thegloves are being placed on the hands, or the sterile articles of thetrays may be contaminated while removing the gloves. Also, sterileinstruments, such as forceps or clamps, have been packaged within thewrap, but it is difficult to manipulate the trays with such instruments,and not infrequently the tray contents have been spilled due to the useof such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principle feature of the present inventionis the provision of a shield to protect a sterile tray and contents fromcontamination during manipulation of the trays by the hands of a userand during opening of the trays for access to the tray contents.

The shield of the present invention includes a flexible sheet whichcovers at least a portion of a top of the tray and at least a portion ofa sidewall of the tray which connects the tray top and bottom. The sheetis sufficiently large to prevent contamination of the tray duringgrasping of the shield by the users hands.

A feature of the present invention is that the tray opens through thetop to a chamber for retaining the contents therein, and the sheetincludes a top panel which substantially closes the tray chamber.

Another feature of the invention is that the sheet includes a bottompanel which covers at least a portion of the tray bottom and whichreleasably retains the sheet to the tray.

A further feature of the invention is that the sheet is resistive ofbacterial penetration to protect the sterile tray and contents fromcontamination while grasping the shield by a non-sterile hand.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of means forreleasably retaining a sterile glove in the shield.

The sheet has a side panel covering at least a portion of the traysidewall and connected to the bottom panel by a fold, and the side panelis connected to the top panel by a grasping fold which is positionedadjacent the tray top.

A feature of the invention is that the sheet includes indicia adjacentthe grasping fold to specify the location for grasping the shield.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of tab meansadjacent the grasping fold to facilitate removal of the shield from thetray.

The tray has an outwardly directed flange adjacent the top of the tray,and the grasping fold of the sheet is positioned adjacent the trayflange.

A further feature of the invention is that the shield may be grasped forengagement against the tray flange to facilitate manipulation of thetray.

The trays may be stackable with the bottom portion of an upper traybeing received in the upper part of the chamber of a lower tray, and aplurality of the shielded trays are nested to form a stack of trays.

Still another feature of the invention is that the tray shields of thenested trays are grasped to unstack the trays without contaminating thetray contents.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiment of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tray shield of the present inventionas positioned on a tray;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shield and tray showinga side tab formed by folding the shield; 7

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the shield and tray takensubstantially as indicated along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tray shield prior to folding for covering atray;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sterile package having a plurality ofstacked trays and tray shields;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a lower tray and shield of thesterile package of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tray shield having a tuck tofacilitate removal of the shield from the trays;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational section view of a shield having a walletfor retaining a sterile glove as positioned on a tray;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the shield wallet of FIG. 8 partlyremoved from the tray; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shield wallet of FIG. 8, with thewallet being slightly released to deposit the glove on a sterilesurface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and3, a sterile tray shield, generally designated 1 l, is shown forcovering a hollow sterile tray or container, generally designated 12, toprotect the tray 12 and sterile articles 14 retained in the tray fromcontamination.

In a preferred form, the tray 12 has a top 16, a bottom 18, and acontinuous side wall 20 connecting the tray top and bottom 16 and 18,with the bottom 18 and sidewall 20 partially enclosing a chamber orcavity 22 in the tray for retention of the sterile articles 14. The tray12 may be generally rectangular with the sidewall 20 including two pairsof upstanding opposing sidewalls connected to the bottom wall 18. Thesidewalls terminate at the top of the tray in edge 16 from which aflange 23 extends around the periphery of the tray. Access to thearticles 14 is obtained through the top 16, and preferably the tray 12has an open top for ready access to the contents. The perimeter of thesidewall adjacent the bottom of the tray may be less than the perimeterof the sidewall adjacent the top of the tray to permit stacking of thetrays, as will be described in greater detail below.

The shield 11 has a top panel 24 for covering at least a portion of thetray top 16, and preferably closes the open top of the tray 12. Theshield 11 has a side panel 26 connected to the top panel 24 and whichfaces and covers a substantial portion of the connecting tray sidewall20 at a side 28. The shield 11 also has a bottom panel connected to theside panel 26 and which engages and covers a portion of the tray bottom18.

As shown in FIG. 4, the shield 11 may be conveniently formed from aflexible rectangular sheet which has a pair of side edges 29a and 29band a pair of end edges 31a and 31b which connect the side edges. First,a lateral fold 34 may be formed in the sheet which extends between thesides 29a and 29b and which is generally aligned with one end edge 31a,and the fold 34 defines the bottom panel or section 30 which extendsbetween the fold 34 and the one end edge 31a. Second, a lateral fold 32is formed in the sheet which also extends between the side edges 29a and29b, and which is generally aligned with the other end edge 31b. Thefolds 32 and 34 define the side panel or section 26 which extendsbetween the folds, and the fold 32 defines the top panel or section 24which extends between the fold 32 and the other end edge 31b. Afterfolding, the sheet is releasably attached to the tray.

Such materials as paper, plastic, or cloth may be used for the flexiblesheet, and the selection of a particular material is in part determinedby its resistance to bacterial penetration. Preferably, the sheetprovides a penetration barrier for at least 30 seconds, employing abacterial transfer technique on moist agar culture media. Additionally,it is contemplated that the shield may be preformed from a rigidmaterial, and a metal could be used for such a shield.

The shield 11 is grasped in the region of the fold line 32 which ispositioned adjacent the outer edge of the flange 23 and indicia 36. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the indicia 36 designates this region bythe word GRASP to specify the preferred location for gripping theshield. To facilitate manipulation of the tray, the grasping fold 32 ispositioned adjacent the tray flange 23, and the grasped shield engagesthe sides or an inner corner ofthe flange 23 for ease of handling.

In order to prevent contamination of the tray and contents, the top andside panels 24 and 26 of the sheet extend substantially the width of thetray relative to the top edge 16 at one side 28, and the top panel 24extends for a sufficient length from the outer edge of flange 23 orconnecting fold 32 to grasp the shield with the hands without touchingthe tray. Thus, the shield may be handled by non-sterile hands, such asan exposed hand or a hand wearing a non-sterile glove, withoutcontaminating the tray or articles. Of course, the shield may be graspedby a hand wearing a sterile glove, if desired.

Since the sidewall 20 is tapered toward the tray bottom 18, the bottompanel 30 extends laterally beyond the sides of the tray. As illustratedin FIG. 2, the extending side portions of the shield may be foldedupwardly toward the tray top 16 along the lines 40 on both sides of thetray and spaced from the edges 29a and 29b, with these side portionsdefining tabs 42 which engage the sides of the tray. Accordingly, thetabs 42 and the bottom panel 30, which engages the tray bottom 18, serveas means for releasably retaining or attaching the shield 1 1 to thetray.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, to remove the shield from the tray, the topand side panels 24 and 26 are pinched by the users fingers adjacent thefold 32, and the shield 11 is pulled outwardly, thus simultaneouslyremoving the shield and exposing the articles 14 in the open tray foruse. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the shield may include tab means,generally designated 44, to facilitate removal of the shield from thetray. The tab means 44 may be formed by folding a tuck 46 in the shield,preferably adjacent the fold line 32, and the tuck 46 is secured by apair of clips 48, by tape, glue, or other suitable means. Although thetuck 46 is shown as folded in the side panel 26, it is also contemplatedthat the tuck may be positioned on the top panel 24 adjacent the fold32, with the direction of the tuck fold being reversed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a plurality of shielded opentopped trays 12are nested to form a stack of trays, as generally designated by thenumeral 50. As a specific example, the trays 12 may contain sterilearticles for scrubbing the skin prior to an operation. The articles 14,the trays 12, and the shields 11 in the tray stack are sterilized andmay be covered with a sterile wrap (not shown). Immediately prior touse, the sterile wrap is unfolded to expose the nested trays 50, theshields 11 are grasped as indicated by the indicia 36 to unstack thetrays 12, and the shields are then removed to expose the contents foruse without contamination.

If desired, the shields 11 may be folded to define the tabs 42, in whichcase the tabs 42 are positioned intermediate the outer surface of anupper tray sidewall 20 and the inner surface of a lower tray sidewall ofthe trays 50, and the tabs 42 are accordingly frictionally engagedbetween the sidewalls to aid in retaining the bottom panels 30 inposition. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the top panels 24 of the lower traysare partially retracted into the tray cavity in order that the bottomportions of the upper trays may be received within the open tray topsfor stacking. If the lower trays 12 are not completely filled and thesidewall 20 is tapered, the side portions 52 of the retracted top panels24 may be folded upwardly toward the tray top 16. Accordingly, when thetrays are stacked the panel side portions 52 are frictionally engagedbetween the inner side wall surface of a lower tray and the exteriorsurfaces of the sides of a shielded upper tray nested therein, therebyretaining the top panels 24 in position. Thus, the engaged tabs 42 andpanel side portions 52 additionally insure that the shields 11 willremain in position until the package is unstacked.

In one embodiment of the stack of trays 50, a sterile pair of forceps 53is positioned above a top panel 24 in a lower tray, with the jaws of theforceps being positioned remote the grasping fold 32 to preventcontaminating of the jaws by the hands while grasping the shield. In thenested trays the forceps are located intermediate the panel 24 and thebottom of a shielded upper tray which is received in the lower tray top.After the trays are unstacked, the forceps 53 are exposed to the user,and the sterile forceps are utilized to remove the sterile contents fromthe trays.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the trays may have a variable height whileutilizing the same size of tray shields. In the package 50, the lowesttray has a greater height than the two upper trays.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the tray shield11 has a wallet, generally designated 60, for retaining a sterile gloveor pair of sterile gloves 62. The wallet 60 has a first panel 64 whichoverlies the top panel 24, and which is connected to the top panel by afirst fold 66 remote from the grasping fold 32. The first panel 64extends from the first fold 66 to adjacent the grasping fold 32 and isconnected by a second fold 70 to a second panel 68 which overlies thefirst panel 64. The second fold 70 is preferably positioned adjacent thegrasping fold 32 in order that the second and side panels 68 and 26 maybe simultaneously grasped in the region of the folds 70 and 32 formoving the tray. The second panel 68 extends from the second fold 70past the first fold 66- and is connected to a third panel 72 by a thirdfold 74 adjacent the first fold 66. The third panel 72 underlies the toppanel 24 and at least partially closes the top of the open tray 12.

In the wallet 60, the cuffed or wrist end 76 of the glove 62 ispositioned intermediate the first and second panels 64 and 68 adjacentthe second fold 70, and the glove 62 extends past the first and thirdfolds 66 and '74, with a finger portion of the glove 78 being positionedintermediate the top and third panels 24 and.72. However, in oneembodiment of the invention, the third panel 72 may be omitted and theextending glove portion 78 may be received in the cavity of the traybelow the top panel 24.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the shield 11 is removed from the tray 12 bygrasping the first and second panels 64 and 68 in the region of thesecond fold 70, and the glove end 76 is gripped through the first andsecond panel's. As shown in FIG. 10, after removal of the shield 11 fromthe tray 12, the first and second panels 64 and 68 are slightly releasedto drop the sterile glove 62 onto a sterile surface 80, and the cuff 76of the sterile glove 62 is exposed for insertion of the hand withoutcontamination of the sterile glove finger portions 78. Thus, the wallet60 serves as means for releasably retaining a sterile glove in the sheetor shield l l.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limita tions should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A shielded container for preventing contamination to substantiallysterile articles retained in the container during manipulation of theshielded container by a users hand after removal of the shieldedcontainer from a sterile wrap, comprising:

a tray having a bottom wall the sides of which are bounded by at leastone sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, and terminatingin a top edge defining an opening in said tray;

substantially sterile articles contained in said tray;

and shield for said tray comprising a flexible sheet which is resistiveof bacterial penetration to protect said tray and articles fromcontamination while grasping the shield by a non sterile hand, saidsheet having a top panel covering at least a portion of the top edge ofsaid sidewall, and a side panel connected to said top panel adjacentsaid top edge and extending downwardly to the bottom wall of the trayover the exterior of said sidewall, a bottom panel connected to saidside panel adjacent the juncture of the sidewall and the bottom wall andextending laterally over at least a portion of the exterior of thebottom wall under the tray, with said top and side panels having asufficient width relative to the one sidewall and said top panel havinga sufficient length extending from the top and side panel connection forgrasping the top and side panels and moving the tray withoutcontaminating said sterile articles, with the end regions of the shieldremote the top and side panel connection being unsecured to each other,with said top and side panels contacting the tray and being unbondedthereto, and with said shield being slidably removable from the tray toexpose the substantially sterile articles for use without contaminationthereof.

2. The shielded container of claim ll wherein said bottom panel has apair of spaced side edges and an end edge connecting the side edges, andsaid shield includes,a pair of side tabs in the bottom panel defined bya fold spaced from and generally aligned with each of the side edges,said tabs being directed generally toward the top edge to engage thetray sidewall for releasably retaining the sheet to the tray.

3. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said top panelsubstantially covers the opening of said tray and is recessed into acavity defined by the bottom wall and sidewall of the tray.

4. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said tray has a rectangularshape with two pairs of upstanding opposing sidewalls extending from thebottom wall and terminating at the top edge with said side panel beingpositioned to face one of said opposing sidewalls,

and in which said top and side panels extend substan- I tially the widthof the tray relative to said one opposing sidewall.

5. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said sheet substantiallycovers the the opening defined by the top edge of the tray.

6. The shielded container of claim 1 including means for releasablyretaining a sterile glove in said sheet.

7. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said top and side panelsare connected by a fold with said panels being grasped in the region ofthe fold for moving the tray and removal of the shield.

8. The shielded container of claim 7 including tab means adjacent saidgrasping fold to facilitate removal of the shield from the tray.

9. The shielded container of claim 8 wherein said tab means comprises, atuck secured in said sheet adjacent the grasping fold.

10. The shielded container of claim 7 including a wallet for a sterileglove comprising:

a first panel overlying said top panel and connected to the top panel bya first fold remote from said grasping fold, with said first panelextending from the first fold to adjacent the grasping fold; and

a second panel overlying said first panel and connected to the firstpanel by a second fold adjacent said grasping fold, said second panelextending from the second fold past the first fold, with the second andside panels being grasped for moving the tray, said first and secondpanels being sufficiently wide to receive at least a portion of theglove therebetween with one end of the glove being positioned adjacentthe second fold, whereby said first and second panels may be grasped inthe region of the second fold for removal of the shield from the trayand for gripping said one glove end without contamination thereof, andsaid first and second grasped panels of the removed shield may beslightly released to deposit the glove onto a sterile surface.

11. The shielded container of claim 10 including a third panelunderlying said top panel and connected to said second panel by a thirdfold adjacent said first fold, with at least a portion of said gloveextending past said first and third folds and being receivedintermediate said top and third panels.

12. The shielded container of claim 7 including indicia adjacent saidgrasping fold specifying the location for grasping the shield.

13. The shielded container of claim 7 wherein said tray includes anoutwardly directed flange adjacent the top edge of the tray, and saidgrasping fold is positioned adjacent said flange, whereby the shield maybe grasped for engagement against the flange to facilitate manipulationof the tray.

Dedication 2,730,338.J0seph 1S. Gregom'us, Tarentum, Pa. GLASS REF INING AP- PARATUS. Patent dated Jan. 10, 1956. Dedication filed July 25,1973, by the assignee, PPG 1%dil8t7'i88, 11w. Hereby dedicates theremainder of its term to the free use and benefit of the People of theUnited States.

[Oficial Gazette December 4, 1.973.]

1. A shielded container for preventing contamination to substantiallysterile articles retained in the container during manipulation of theshielded container by a user''s hand after removal of the shieldedcontainer from a sterile wrap, comprising: a tray having a bottom wallthe sides of which are bounded by at least one sidewall extendingupwardly from said bottom wall, and terminating in a top edge definingan opening in said tray; substantially sterile articles contained insaid tray; and a shield for said tray comprising a flexible sheet whichis resistive of bacterial penetration to protect said tray and articlesfrom contamination while grasping the shield by a non - sterile hand,said sheet having a top panel covering at least a portion of the topedge of said sidewall, and a side panel connected to said top paneladjacent said top edge and extending downwardly to the bottom wall ofthe tray over the exterior of said sidewall, a bottom panel connected tosaid side panel adjacent the juncture of the sidewall and the bottomwall and extending laterally over at least a portion of the exterior ofthe bottom wall under the tray, with said top and side panels having asufficient width relative to the one sidewall and said top panel havinga sufficient length extending from the top and side panel connection forgrasping the top and side panels and moving the tray withoutcontaminating said sterile articles, with the end regions of the shieldremote the top and side panel connection being unsecured to each other,with said top and side panels contacting the tray and being unbondedthereto, and with said shield being slidably removable from the tray toexpose the substantially sterile articles for use without contaminationthereof.
 2. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said bottom panelhas a pair of spaced side edges and an end edge connecting the sideedges, and said shield includes, a pair of side tabs in the bottom paneldefined by a fold spaced from and generally aligned with each of theside edges, said tabs being directed generally toward the top edge toengage the tray sidewall for releasably retaining the sheet to the tray.3. The shielded container of claim 1 wherein said top panelsubstantially covers the opening of said tray and is recessed into acavity defined by the bottom wall and sidewall of the tray.
 4. Theshielded container of claim 1 wherein said tray has a rectangular shapewith two pairs of upstanding opposing sidewalls extending from thebottom wall and terminating at the top edge with said side panel beingpositioned to face one of said opposing sidewalls, and in which said topand side panelS extend substantially the width of the tray relative tosaid one opposing sidewall.
 5. The shielded container of claim 1 whereinsaid sheet substantially covers the the opening defined by the top edgeof the tray.
 6. The shielded container of claim 1 including means forreleasably retaining a sterile glove in said sheet.
 7. The shieldedcontainer of claim 1 wherein said top and side panels are connected by afold with said panels being grasped in the region of the fold for movingthe tray and removal of the shield.
 8. The shielded container of claim 7including tab means adjacent said grasping fold to facilitate removal ofthe shield from the tray.
 9. The shielded container of claim 8 whereinsaid tab means comprises, a tuck secured in said sheet adjacent thegrasping fold.
 10. The shielded container of claim 7 including a walletfor a sterile glove comprising: a first panel overlying said top paneland connected to the top panel by a first fold remote from said graspingfold, with said first panel extending from the first fold to adjacentthe grasping fold; and a second panel overlying said first panel andconnected to the first panel by a second fold adjacent said graspingfold, said second panel extending from the second fold past the firstfold, with the second and side panels being grasped for moving the tray,said first and second panels being sufficiently wide to receive at leasta portion of the glove therebetween with one end of the glove beingpositioned adjacent the second fold, whereby said first and secondpanels may be grasped in the region of the second fold for removal ofthe shield from the tray and for gripping said one glove end withoutcontamination thereof, and said first and second grasped panels of theremoved shield may be slightly released to deposit the glove onto asterile surface.
 11. The shielded container of claim 10 including athird panel underlying said top panel and connected to said second panelby a third fold adjacent said first fold, with at least a portion ofsaid glove extending past said first and third folds and being receivedintermediate said top and third panels.
 12. The shielded container ofclaim 7 including indicia adjacent said grasping fold specifying thelocation for grasping the shield.
 13. The shielded container of claim 7wherein said tray includes an outwardly directed flange adjacent the topedge of the tray, and said grasping fold is positioned adjacent saidflange, whereby the shield may be grasped for engagement against theflange to facilitate manipulation of the tray.